Portable derrick



April 27, 1965 R. SMITH 3,180,496

PORTABLE DERRICK RICHARD SMI TH April 27, 1965 R. SMITH 3,180,496

PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Aug. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RICHARDSMITH 7.77% GZNT United States Patent O 3,180,496 PRTABLE BEREICHRichard Smith, lvlilford, Conn., assigner to United AircraftCorporation, East Hartford, Qonn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug.22, 1960, Ser. No. 50,899 4 Claims. (Cl. 212-58) This invention relatesto a derrick and more particularly to a portable derrick capable of usein ield operations.

An object of this invention is to provide a derrick capable of being setup in remote areas by a minimum number of personnel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a derrick having anupwardly extending center member or truss rotatable in a support bearingmember located around the member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a derrick oflightweight construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a derrick which can beset up easily in areas having an uneven terrain.

A further object of this invention is to provide a derrick having a basearound which the derrick will rotate and also pivot downwardly towardthe ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide a derrick capable of easydisassembly for transportability.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification andfrom accompanying iigures which illustrate the invention.

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a portable derrick constructed inaccordance with subject invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the support bearing member andassociated portion of the main center structural member or truss; Y

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FlG. 3 g

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6 6 of FlG. 3.

Referring to FG. l, the derrick 2 illustrated comprises four main parts.rl`hese four parts are represented by (l) a main center structuralmember or truss 4, (2) a base member 6 on which said structural member 4is mounted, (3) support means 8 for said structural member 4, and (4)lifting means 10.

The structural member or truss 4 is made up of three sections, topsection 12, intermediate section 14 and bottom section 16. Each of thesesections has a triangular cross section and is fabricated from tubularmembers 1S. Cross members 19 interconnect tubular members 1S. The bottomsection 16 tapers outwardly as it extends upwardly from its base member2u. A ball 21 extends downwardly from base member 2t? for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. The top of section 16 is connected to thebottom of section 14 by joint couplings 22. These joint couplings aremerely enlarged portions on adjoining parts of sections 16 and 14 whichare bolted together. It is to be understood that other type couplingmeans can be used. Intermediate section 14 also tapers outwardly as itextends upwardly from the top of section 16.

An annular member 24 is positioned around the top of intermediatesection 14. A ange 26 extends inwardly from said annular member andengages the top of said intermediate section 14. This annular member 24will be hereinafter described. Top section 12 has its lower end engagingthe upper side of the flange 26. Bolts 2S extend through anges on thetop and intermediate sec- Patented Apr. 2'?, 1965 tions 12 and 14 andflange 26 to tixedly hold these elements together. Top section 12 tapersinwardly as it extends upwardly from ange 26. A cap member 36 is xed tothe top of section 12. Each of the sections 12, 14 and 16 areapproximately the same in height. This is to permit the derrick to bestored in as small an area as possible when it is dismantled.

Base member 6 comprises a flat plate 32 with means xed thereto forreceiving ball 21 of the bottom section 16. Plate 32 has openings 34therein which can be used to fix the plate in relation to its mountingsurface. For example, if the derrick is to be mounted on the ground,stake members may be driven through the holes into the ground and if thederrick is to be mounted on a wooden door, bolts or screws may be usedto xedly hold the plate member.

The means fixed to base member 6 for receiving ball 21 on the bottomsection 16 comprises a socket member 44) having trunnions 42. Thesetrunnions extend from opposite sides of socket member 4() and arepositioned for rotation in grooves 44 in support members 46 which extendupwardly from plate 32. These members 46 are located across the upperface thereof in parallel relationship and are equally spaced from thecenter of the plate. Support and holding blocks 43 are iixed to theouter side of each of the support members 46 adjacent the grooves 44 andhave grooves 50 which provide an extension of the grooves 44. Trunnions42 are retained in position in grooves 44 and Si? by pins 52. One pin S2extends through each support and holding block 48 across is cooperatinggroove S just above the cooperating trunnion 42. This permits socketmember 4i) to rotate about axis A--A, the trunnion axis.

Socket member 40 contains a socket 6u for receiving the ball 21. Thisball 21 is retained in position in the socket 6) by retaining pins 62which pass through the socket member 40 in a manner so as to intersectthe socket 6i) at a point above the ball 21 when it is positioned in thebottom of the socket. The pins 52 and 62 may be maintained in positionby a lock ring 64 or by any other holding means. This constructionmaintains the lower end of the main center structural member or truss 4xed to base member 6 against lateral movement while permitting rotationof said main center structural member or truss 4 with respect to saidbase.

Annular member 24 is formed having a iiange 7@ extending outwardly fromits lower end. The exposed outer surface of the annular member Z4 andthe exposed upper surface of the harige 7G are formed as bearingsurfaces. A Separate bearing member or means can be located on member 24if necessary. Mating with these bearing surfaces is an annular supportbearing member consisting of annular means `74 having two annularbearing surfaces which mate with the bearing surfaces respectively ofthe outer surface of annular member Z4 and ilange 70. As shown in FIG.2, these surfaces are ixedly positioned on the interior circumference ofan annular tube. The surfaces are on a member having a channel section.

The annular means 74 is xed in position by means attached thereto and toa fixed surface. In FIG. l the ,derrick is shown extending from aposition on the ground. Three connections are provided between theannular means 74 and the ground. Each connection extends between abracket on the annular means 74 and a stake in the ground and comprisesa cable section 9i) of fixed length, a section 92 changeable in lengthto provide for and tackle arrangement.

U-shaped clasp 99 which is pivoted at its open end to its cooperatingbracket ,90. The lower end ofV each cable section 90 has an open loopthereon. The upper end of each section 92 has a hook which engages theopen loop of its cooperating cable section. The lower end of eachsection 92 has a loop member extending therefrom. The upper end of eachsection 94 hasV a hook which engages the loop of its cooperating section92. The lower end of each section 94 has a hook which engages a stakeset in the ground. Each section 92 Vcan be a block and tackle with meansfor xing the length thereof and eachrsection 94 can be a unitdesigned'for providing small increments of movement in changing itslength. While each connection is shown as a composite unit having asection of cable in its length, each connection could be rigid andadjustable in length such as by'having a telescoping action. It can nowbe seen that the main center structural member or truss 4 is mounted forrotation in its base e and support means 8. A receptacle 190 is fixed tothe bottom section 16 of said truss 4 and is adapted to receive one endof a pivoting bar 102 which can be used to obtain leverage in turningthe .upstanding main center structural member or truss 4.

A lifting means is provided which comprises an arm means pivotallymounted to the lower end of the top section 12. The arm means 10 has twotubular members 110 connected at ltheir outer end by a bracket plate 112and pivoted at their other ends to brackets 114 on tubular members 18 ofthe top section 12. The upper portion of bracket plate 112 is connectedto the top bracket 11d on the top cap member of the top section 12 by ablock The rope from this block and tackle extends downwardly toa winch118 on the bottom section 1'6 of the truss 4. While this winch is shownbeing hand operated, it may be electrically or hydraulically driven. Achain hoist arrangement extends drownn wardly from the lower por-tionofbracket plate M2 so that that some lifts may be made by an operatorcontrolling this chain hoist alone.

Operation When the main structural member or truss has been assembled,along with the annular means 74 and the lifting means 10, the ball 21can be placed in the socket member 40 of the base member. This is donewith the truss member 4 resting on the ground. This means that thesocket member 40 is rotated about its axis'A-A so that the ball 21 canengage the socket 60. When this has been done,the pins 62 are placed'inposition to main-Y tain Y.the ball within socket 60. With the base plate6 located in the position determined to be the best for setting up thederrick, the truss 4 is lifted into position by use of the threeconnections provided between annular means 74 and the ground. o

For example using FIG. 1, in this figure the derrick can pivot angularlyeither to the left or to the right about theV axis AV-A of socket member40, if the derrick extends towards the right then the connectionextending to the left is lengthened until it can extend between itsbracket 90 and its ground stake. The other two connections are placedbetween their cooperating brackets 99 and their respective groundstakes. These are allowed to have a little slack. Then the longconnection is shortened by shortening section 92, while this section 92is being shortened both other sections are lengthened to permit thederrick to rise into place. To enable accurate vertical alignment of thederrick two levels can be permanently attached to the structure. It isto be understood that any alignment means can be used. y

To rotate the main center structural member or truss 4 about itsvertical axis the operator need merely move the free end of the pivotingbar V102. It is to be understood that arplurality of sockets 100 can beprovided to permit varying positions of the pivot bar 102. Further, thiswould permit the use of a plurality of bars if necessary. Y

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdescription above or to the specific figures, but may be usedy in otherways without departure from its spirit as deiined by the followingclaims.

I claim: Y

1. A portable derrick comprising, in combination, a plurality of groupsof member rigidly joined by cross braces, said groups being alined andreleasably securedto one another to define a tower, the bottom group ofmembers being supported on a base plate, a support member fixedtransversely of said tower between two 'of said groups of members, thetower tapering inwardly as it ex* tends from the support member to saidbase plate, the tower tapering inwardly as it extends from the supportmember to the top of said tower, said support member defining acylindrical surface surrounding the tower and an annular surfaceextending outwardly from the lower portionV of said cylindrical surface,bearing material secured to both said cylindrical surface and saidannular surface, a swivel ring surrounding said member and havingsurfaces in abutting engagement with said bearing material so that themember is smoothly rotatable within said ring, and guy wires coupled tosaid ring for supporting said tower in an erect position extendingupwardly from said base plate.

2. A portable'derrick comprising, in combination, a plurality of groupsof members rigidly joined by cross braces, said groups being aligned andreleasably secured to one another to define a tower, the bottom group ofmembers Vbeing supported on a base plate, a trunnion block rockablysupported on said plate, said block having an upwardly openingsemispherical socket, said bottom group of members having a pivotpinrwith a lower ball portion seated withinrsaid socket, said pinrotatably supporting saidV tower, a support member fixed transversely ofsaid tower between two of said groups of members, the tower taperinginwardly-as it extends from` the support member to said base plate, Vthetower tapering inwardly as it extends from the support member to the topofrsaid tower, said support member defining a cylindrical surfacesurrounding the tower and an annular surface extending outwardly fromthe lower portion of said cylindrical surface, Vbearing material securedto both said cylindrical surface and said annular surface, a swivel ringsurrounding saidV member and havingV surfaces in abutting engagementwith said bearing material so that the member is smoothly rotatablewithin said ring, and guy wires k coupled to said ring for supportingsaid tower in an erect position extending upwardly from said base plate.

3. A portable derrick comprising, in combination, a plurality of groupsof membersV rigidly joined by cross braces, said groups being alined andreleasably secured to Y one another to dene a tower, the bottom group ofmembers rigidly joined by braces being rotatably supported on a baseplate, a circular plate sandwiched between two of said groups ofmembers, the tower tapering inwardly as it extends downwardly from thecircular plate to said base plate, the tower tapering inwardly as itextends upwardly from the circular plate to the top of the tower, aswivel Y ring carried by said plate for free rotation thereon, saidrotatably supported on a base plate, said base plate having upwardlyextending portions defining a pair of upwardly directed slots, atrurmion block roekably and removably supported in said slots, saidblock having an upwardiy opening semi-spherical socket, `said bottomgroup of members having a pivot pin with a lower ball seated within saidsocket, the tower tapering inwardly as it extends downwardly from thecircular plate to said base plate, the tower tapering inwardly as itextends upwardly from the circular plate to the top of the tower, aswivel ring carried by said plate for free rotation thereon, said ringbeing removably supported on said plate, and guy lines coupled to saidring for supporting said tower in an erect position extending upwardlyfrom said base plate.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,771 11/ 12Gaskill et al 212-70 1,311,469 7/19 Smith 212-70 X 2,109,304 2/38 Ormsby212-70 X 2,702,129 2/55 Liebherr 212-70 X 3,049,242 8/ 62 Stevens et al212-58 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,573 6/20 Germany.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

KARL I. ALBRECHT, LOUIS I. DEMBO, WILLIAM B. LA BOR-DE, Examiners.

1. A PORTABLE DERRICK COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF GROUPSOF MEMBER RIGIDLY JOINED BY CROSS BRACES, SAID GROUPS BEING ALINED ANDRELEASABLY SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER TO DEFINE A TOWER, THE BOTTOM GROUP OFMEMBERS BEING SUPPORTED ON A BASE PLATE, A SUPPORT MEMBER FIXEDTRANSVERSELY OF SAID TOWER BETWEEN TWO OF SAID GROUPS OF MEMBERS, THETOWER TAPERING INWARDLY AS ITS EXTENDS FROM THE SUPPORT MEMBER TO SAIDBASE PLATE, THE TOWER TAPERING INWARDLY AS IT EXTENDS FROM THE SUPPORTMEMBER TO THE TOP OF SAID TOWER, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER DEFINING ACYLINDRICAL SURFACE SURROUNDING THE TOWER AND AN ANNULAR SURFACEEXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE,BEARING MATERIAL SECURED TO BOTH SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND SAIDANNULAR SURFACE, A SWIVEL RING SURROUNDING SAID MEMBER AND HAVINGSURFACES IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEARING MATERIAL SO THAT THEMEMBER IS SMOOTHLY ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID RING, SAID GUY WIRES COUPLED TOSAID RING FOR SUPPORTING SAID TOWER IN AN ERECT POSITION EXTENDINGUPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE PLATE.